What is an Aurora internship?

Internships provide an excellent opportunity for students and graduates to consider a career in the native title and/or broader Indigenous sector, while at the same time providing additional resources to organisations in need of assistance.

In conjunction to the above, we welcome candidates who may also have a background in:

Economics, finance, commerce

Education

Human Rights

International relations

Media/Communications

Policy

International applicants

We accept applications from students and graduates from overseas. Selection to be eligible for a placement for overseas applicants is very competitive as the primary aim of the program is to attract and retain people to work in the area of Australian Indigenous affairs at some point in the future. We therefore encourage overseas applicants to apply only if they have a background in either law, anthropology, archaeology, cultural heritage, environmental management, human geography, history and/or sociology and a keen interest in working in the area of land rights, policy development, social justice and human rights – all with an Indigenous focus. Having the intention to remain in Australia or return at some point after an internship would certainly strengthen your application.

There are a few matters to consider for an international applicants:

That you are legally permitted to undertake an unpaid internship in Australia

That you are able to fully cover your airfare, accommodation and daily living expenses whilst on placement

That you are able to cover your own medical insurance in the event that you will need medical attention on placement. This is due to the fact that Medicare is not available to non-residents or non-Australian citizens

Whether you are open to being placed anywhere in Australia or if you have a preference and if so, which cities those are?

If you are a legal applicant, as you will not have studied Australian Property Law and are therefore probably not familiar with the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) – it might be advisable to consider the possibility of a policy and advocacy placement in a non-NTRB organisation rather than a placement at a Native Title Representative Body (NTRB), where knowledge of the Acts and Australian Property Law is crucial.

What do I need to apply for an internship?

All applicants for internships need:

a strong academic record

an interest in the area of native title, social justice and Indigenous affairs more generally

strong cultural awareness and sensitivity

good interpersonal and communication skills.

In addition, specific requirements may apply:

Law applicants need to be currently enrolled in, or preferably have completed, the Property Law component of your legal studies and it is important that you have covered native title in the specific Property component (this may vary depending on the curriculum at your university, i.e. Property A or B; or Introduction to Property and Commercial Law or Real Property).

You may still be eligible if you have completed a substantial part of your law degree but have not yet completed the Property component. Contact placements team to determine if you are eligible.

For social science applicants - no specific additional requirements apply.

When and how long is an internship?

Usually from mid June to August (winter); and November to 3rd week of December and/or mid/late January to March (summer)

There is flexibility around these timeframes, especially for recent graduates - through to May for summer interns; through to October for winter interns.

Internships are a full-time unpaid commitment usually around 37 hours per week, however we can negotiate part-time placements (3 days/week) if need be.

When considering applying to the Internship Program you must commit to the minimum internship length.

What sort of work can I expect to do?

Interns can be placed at a native title focused organisation, supporting their legal or research staff; or at a Host organisation working to in the broader Indigenous sector.

Interns should expect a healthy balance of challenging and interesting tasks along with a fair amount of administrative tasks (database entry, filing etc.)

Most NTRB and PBC internships involve native title and land rights-related work, but the work may also cover constitutional law and local government regulations.

Lawyers at NTRBs and PBCs represent native title holders in their native title claims under the Native Title Act 1993, advise traditional owners on agreements and negotiate agreements alongside traditional owners. They assist with the establishment of PBCs, corporations formed as a result of a native title determination, prepare submissions to government; attend court and on-country meetings, among a raft of other tasks.

Anthropologists at NTRBs and PBCs play a key role in the native title process in Australia by conducting research, undertaking field work and preparing ‘connection reports’ and genealogical data for claims under the Native Title Act 1993.

Research staff at NTRBs and PBCs with a background in history, archaeology and cultural heritage might be involved in research, field work, preparing ‘connection reports’ and genealogical data for claims under the Native Title Act 1993.

Internships at organisations in the broader sector could encompass a wider range of advocacy, research and policy issues relating to human rights, social justice, policy development and Indigenous affairs more generally. You should be aware that the work may not involve native title.

Research staff at these organisations undertake research, policy development, prepare reports and submissions to government.

What is expected of interns?

Every internship is unique. Irrespective of where you are placed, interns are there to assist. Interns are encouraged to have lower expectations going into the internship and to approach the experience with flexibility and a willingness to support the often time-poor staff. Host organisations are almost always resource constrained and are more than happy to have an extra pair of hands to assist with their workload. Supervision can be minimal at times requiring an ability to work independently and to show initiative. Interns should expect to be given a balance of challenging and interesting tasks along with a fair amount of administrative tasks (database entry, filing etc.)

Interns commit to fulfilling a number of obligations during and after their placement, which include:

All Aurora interns will receive a Certificate of Completion once all of their Aurora intern obligations have been fulfilled.

What will it cost?

Internships are unpaid

You will need to cover your own day-to-day expenses (e.g. food, entertainment, local travel etc.) so careful consideration should be given to this prior to applying for an internship

If your preference is to be placed away from home, you will generally be expected to source your own accommodation and organise your own transport. You should have a clear idea of your accommodation and transport options prior to applying for an internship

In very few cases, a Host organisation may be able to assist you with travel costs and/or accommodation expenses, or possibly a weekly stipend.

Some universities offer funding to interns placed through Aurora. It is your responsibility to make enquiries directly through your university. To date the following universities have offered assistance:​

Flinders University

Griffith University

Macquarie University

Queensland University of Technology

University of Adelaide

University of Melbourne

University of Queensland.

You should consult with your relevant faculty or school for further information.

You should consult with your relevant faculty or school for further information.

ABstudy - Away from Base activity funding:

This can be used to claim funding for activities which require students to travel away from their home for a short period of time. A submission is required for an activity to be undertaken by an institution for: • testing and assessment programs • residential schools • field trips, and • placements.

Away from base activities’ are necessary academic components of an approved course which require students to travel away from their home or study location for a short period of time. For ABSTUDY purposes, these activities are grouped into categories which cover testing and assessment programs, residential schools or block release programs, field trips and tertiary placements. Mainstream and special course activities have different approval processes. Mainstream courses are courses which are open to all eligible students. Special courses are courses designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students only. See more information at

Support for interns - Resources

The Internships team:

correspond with you weekly

is always available to discuss your concerns and offer support

available by phone after hours, where possible for emergencies.

You will receive a link to the Handbook for Internsprior to the commencement of your internship. The Handbook for Interns contain useful information to support you while on your internship, and includes:

In addition, a valuable supplement to the Handbook for Interns is the Hints and Tips for Aurora Interns by Locationwhich includes detailed information from past interns about their experiences not just working within their specific Host organisations, but also of the cities they have been placed in.